Screen framing construction

ABSTRACT

A FRAME MEMBER HAS SPACED SIDE WALLS JOINED BY A BOTTOM WALL TO FORM A GENERALLY U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, THE EXTREMITIES OF THE SIDE WALLS BEING FORMED WITH INWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGE PORTIONS PARTIALLY OVERLYING THE BOTTOM WALL. A HOLLOW CLAMPING MEMBER IS RECEIVED WITHIN THE FRAME MEMBER RESTING AGAINST THE FRAME MEMBER BOTTOM WALL WITH CLAMPING MEMBER SIDE WALLS EXTENDING ADJACENT THE SIDE WALL FLANGE PORTIONS OF THE FRAME MEMBER AND A TOP WALL OF THE CLAMPING MEMBER OUTWARDLY OF THE FRAME MEMBER. THUS, WITH DEFORMABLE SHEET MATERIAL INSERTED WITHIN THE FRAME MEMBER, BETWEEN ONE OF THE FRAME MEMBER SIDE WALLS AND ITS CORRESPONDING CLAMPING MEMBER SIDE WALL, AND WITH DOWNWARD DEFORMING PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE CLAMPING MEMBER TOP WALL, THE CLAMPING MEMBER IS TRANSVERSELY DEFORMED FORCING THE CLAMPING MEMBER SIDE WALL TO CLAMP TRANSVERSELY AGAINST THE FRAME MEMBER SIDE WALLS AND OUTWARDLY AGAINST THE SIDE WALL FLANGE PORTIONS OF THE CLAMPING MEMBER CORRESPONDING CLAMPING THE DEFORMABLE SHEET MATERIAL THEREBETWEEN. IN ONE FORM OF THE CLAMPING MEMBER, AN INVERTED, U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION CONFIGURATION COOPERATES WITH AN UPWARD PROTRUSION OF THE FRAME MEMBER BOTTOM WALL TO ACCOMPLISH THE CLAMPING, AND IN ANOTHER FORM THE CLAMPING MEMBER IS ANNULAR IN CROSSSECTION FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE CLAMPING.   D R A W I N G

March 13, 1973 1 G. E. FRALIICK ET AL 3,720,256

SCREEN FRAMING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 16. 1971 T Fig. l.

INVENTORS.

GEORGE EDWIN FRAL/CK ROY ALBERT FRALICK MAHONEY, HORNBAKER AND SCH/CK ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 160-392 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A frame member has spaced side walls joined by a bottom wall to form a generally U-shaped cross-section, the extremities of the side walls being formed with inwardly projecting flange portions partially overlying the bottom wall. A hollow clamping member is received within the frame member resting against the frame member bottom wall with clamping member side walls extending adjacent the side wall flange portions of the frame member and a top wall of the clamping member outwardly of the frame member. Thus, with deformable sheet material inserted within the frame member, between one of the frame member side walls and its corresponding clamping member side wall, and with downward deforming pressure applied to the clamping member top wall, the clamping member is transversely deformed forcing the clamping member side wall to clamp transversely against the frame member side walls and outwardly against the side wall flange portions of the clamping member correspondingly clamping the deformable sheet material therebetween. In one form of the clamping member, an inverted, U-shaped cross-section configuration cooperates with an upward protrusion of the frame member bottom wall to accomplish the clamping, and in another form the clamping member is annular in crosssection for accomplishing the clamping.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a screen framing construction and more particularly, to such a construction for securely and pemanently clamping edge portions of deformable sheet material such as screen material and the like in a frame member in a manner preventing disassembly thereof without a complete destruction of the frame member. Even more particularly, this invention relates to such a screen framing construction wherein a clamping member is inserted into a frame member with deformable sheet material inserted into the frame member adjacent the clamping member, after which, permanent deformation of the clamping member securely clamps the sheet material in the frame member in a manner assuring that the sheet material cannot be separated from the frame member thereafter without the destruction of the frame member.

One of the fast increasing problems in our modern society is the security of residences and business establishments. Various increased locking and bolting mechanisms are being added to doors and those windows which are not permanently secured closed in an effort to frustrate the rising incidence of illegal entry. With the doors, of course, increasing the lock and bolt security is sufficient for the purpose and these may be provided sufficiently strong to prevent entry by anyone not completely destroying the doors.

With windows, however, a completely different problem is presented since even though the windows may be secured closed by proper locks and bolting, windows still contain glass which may be relatively easily cut and re-- moved. Thus, the only answer is to provide an additional barrier which will not only permit light and ventilation ice therethrough, but will be sufiiciently strong for preventing access to the window glass by someone attempting surreptitious entry. The obvious answer is screening, but

the desired security has not been satisfied by the prior OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a screen framing construction which, when once assembled, requires a destruction of the frame of the screen in order to separate the screening material or other deformable sheet material therefrom, thereby frustrating ready access therethrough. With the novel screen framing construction of the present invention, once the screening material has been edgewise assembled, extending into the frame member and the clamping member has been deformed into final position, it is impossible to separate the screening material from the frame member without a complete destruction of such frame member. Thus, with the overall screen assembly secured in place covering a window, the only manner of access through the window is by a complete destruction of the screen assembly.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a screen framing construction having the foregoing attributes yet which may be quickly and easily assembled without the danger of improper assembly so as to always assure the proper security and strength sought. With the frame member and clamping member parts properly formed and compatible, it is only necessary, during assembly, to quickly insert the clamping member into the frame member with the sheet material or screening edgewise inserted therebetween, and by the application of a simple deforming force against a protruding portion of the clamping .member, the assembly is completed in final form with the screening securely engaged and gripped. Despite the simplicity of assembly and final deformation of the clamping member, the unique configurations of the cooperating parts assures that'the screening material cannot thereafter be removed from the assembly without a complete destruction of the framing member.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a screen framing construction incorporating all of the above advantages which retains simplicity for maximum economics. In either of the best embodiments contemplated and illustrated herein, the frame member and clamping member parts, although of unique cooperating configurations, are of relatively simple form capable of economical mass production, while the screening or other sheet material may be of conventional form. Thus, the extreme advantages and sought after increased security are attained without sacrificing simplicity and the resulting desirable economical final assemblies.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing which are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front view showing a finished screen incorporating the screen framing construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view showing a clamping member forming part of the assembly of one embodiment of the screen framing construction of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged, fragmentary, transverse sectional views looking in the direction and at the location of the arrows 4-4 in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 showing the first embodiment of the screen framing construction of the present invention in assembled configuration prior to being deformed into clamping configuration and FIG. 4 showing the same in final clamped configuration; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively, but showing a second embodiment of the screen framing construction of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED Referring to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing, a first embodiment of the screen framing construciton of the present invention is illustrated and includes an elongate, generally 'U-shaped cross-section frame member generally indicated at 10 forming a rectangular peripheral screen frame generally indicated at 12 and shown in FIG. 1, the frame member 10 having opposite side walls 14 joined by a bottom wall 16 to form a generally U- shaped cross-section opening 18. Furthermore, the side walls 14 terminate at their free ends in oppositely inwardly projecting flange portions 20, while the bottom wall 16 is formed with a longitudinally extending, transversely centrally intermediate projection 22 extending into the U-shaped opening 18. The frame members 10 forming the screen frame 12 may consist of any rigid material highly resistant to deformation by usual prying tools, examples of such material being, steel, thickened aluminum and certain of the more recent highly shock resistant plastics.

In this first embodiment, the screen framing construction of the present invention further includes an elongate, hollow cross-section, in this case inverted generally U- shaped cross-section, clamping member generally indicated at 24 formed by opposite side walls 26 joined upwardly of the frame member 10 by a top wall 28, the latter being arcuate in cross-section prior to deformation as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Also, prior to deformation or in assembly configuration, particularly as shown in FIG. 3, the clamping member 24 is received within the frame member 10 with the extremities of the clamping member side walls 26 resting downwardly on the frame member bottom wall !16 straddling the projection 22 of the frame member bottom wall, the clamping member top wall 28 at this time, projecting appreciably above the frame member 110 or upwardly of the frame member U-shaped opening 18. Also, the clamping member side walls 26 extend inwardly along the flange portions 20 of the frame member side walls 14 and at these locations in the assembly configuration of the clamping member 24, the clamping member is formed with a series of preferably longitudinally spaced and generally longitudinally aligned perforations therethrough at each of the side walls 26 providing weakened portions on the clamping member to aid in desired deformation thereof as will be hereinafter explained.

For purposes of the present invention, the clamping member 24 is formed of a relatively rigid material, but that which is deformable from relatively high forces exerted thereon, steel and thickened aluminum again being prime examples, depending on the final security required. It should be understood, however, that the principals of the present invention are not intended to be restricted to the particular materials designated, such materials only being given as workable examples. For instance, of the suggested materials, where maximum security and strength of the final screen framing construction is desired, various of the high-strength steels may be used, but where lesser security and strength is satisfactory, the lesser strength steels and aluminum and high-impact plastic at least for the frame member 10 may e used.

To complete the screen frame 12 with the clamping member 24 still in the assembly configuration prior to deformation thereof, deformable sheet material such as screening 32 is edgewise positioned within the frame member 10 adjacent the clamping member 24, that is, transversely between one set of the frame and clamping member side walls '14 and 26 as shown in FIG. 3. Again, the screening 32 may be of various materials depending on the strength and security required for the overall screen framing construction. At the same time, various other deformable sheet materials may be used depending on the conditions required or desired.

As shown by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, the screen framing construction is completed by applying deforming forces or pressure against the top wall 28 of the clamping member 24 forcing the clamping member side wall 26 at one side transversely against the frame member side wall 14 with the clamping member engaging beneath and inwardly along the flange portion 20 of that frame member side wall. At the same time, during such deformation of the clamping member 24, the opposite clamping member side wall 26 is forced transversely outwardly to clamp the screening 32 against the opposite frame member side wall 14 and beneath and along the opposite side wall flange portion 20. This proper deformation of the clamping member 24 is guided by the projection 22 in the frame member bottom wall 16 which prevents the clamping member side walls 26 from moving transversely together, as well as the perforations 30 at the opposite sides of the clamping member 24 providing weakened portions which will intially and more easily deform upon application of the forces and pressure.

The end result is the clamping member 24 in its final permanently deformed configuration as shown in FIG. 4, securely clamps between the frame member side walls 14 and clamps the screening 32 in the frame member 10. With this permanent final deformation of the clamping member 24, it is impossible to remove either the clamping member or the screening 32 without a complete destruction of the frame member 10. Thus, a final assembled screen framing construction is provided which will provide security when permanently fastened over a building opening, the degree of security provided being determined by the particular materials used, the important point being that the screening 32 or other deformable sheet material can never be removed from the construction without a complete destruction of the frame member 10.

A second embodiment of the screen framing construction of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and includes a frame member generally indicated at 34 virtually identical to that of the first embodiment with the transverse dimensions or width thereof being slightly reduced but still including side walls 36 terminating upwardly in flange portions 38 and joined downwardly by a bottom wall 40, again forming a U-shaped opening 42. A similar clamping member generally indicated at 44 is of hollow cross-section, in this case, annular in cross-section formed by side wall 46, a top wall 48 and a bottom wall 50. The materials may be of the same choice depending on the conditions to be met.

In assembly configuration, the clamping member 44 is received within the frame member 34 and screening 52 or similar deformable sheet material is edgewise inserted likewise into the frame member 34 between one set of the frame and clamping member side walls 36 and 46 as shown in FIG. 5. The final deforming forces and pressure are exerted against the clamping member 44, forcing the clamping member 44 fully within the frame member 34 into deformed clamping configuration. In such configuration, the one clamping member side wall 46 clamps transversely outwardly against the adjacent frame member side wall 36 and beneath and around that side wall flange portion 38, while the other clamping member side wall clamps transversely outwardly against that frame member side wall with the screening 52 therebetween permanently securing the screening within the frame member as shown.

Thus, preferred embodiments of the screen framing construction of the present invention are shown and described which provide screen framing construction of maximum security, far greater than that heretofore provided, and particularly screen framing construction in which it is impossible to remove the screening or other deformable sheet material from the frame member without a complete destruction of such frame member. Furthermore, despite the extreme security provided by the screen framing construction of the present invention, due to the unique configurations of the frame and clamping members, it is possible to assemble the same in a relatively easy and foolproof manner, such assembly always assuring that the final strength of assembly will be provided. Still further, even with the foregoing advantages, the various components of the screen framing construction may be provided for a relatively economical cost.

We claim:

1. In a frame construction for framing screen and other deformable sheet material, the combination of: an elongate, generally U-shaped cross-section frame member having opposite side walls joined by a bottom wall defining a generally U-shaped cross-section opening, said frame member side walls terminating at free ends thereof in oppositely inwardly projecting flange portions projecting into said frame member central opening; and an elongate, hollow cross-section clamping member having opposite side walls upwardly joined by a top wall, said clamping member in assembly configuration being positionable downwardly into said frame member opening with said clamping member side walls transversely inwardly of said frame member side walls and side wall flanges and with said clamping member downwardly on said frame member bottom wall and said clamping member top wall projecting above said frame member side wall flanges, said clamping member in said assembly configuration having at least one clamping member side wall spaced transversely of one of said frame member side walls and flange portion permitting edgewise insertion of a deformable sheet member transversely therebetween and into said frame member opening, said clamping member in deformed clamping configuration from a downward deforming force against said clamping member top wall having said clamping member side walls clamped transversely along said frame member side Walls and beneath and transversely inwardly along said frame member side wall flange portions to deform and clamp said sheet material transversely against said one frame member side wall and beneath and transversely along said flange portion of said one frame member side wall.

2. A frame construction as defined in claim 1 in which said clamping member is inverted generally U-shaped in cross-section.

3. A frame construction as defined in claim 1 in which said clamping member is annular in cross-section.

4. A frame construction as defined in claim 1'in which said clamping member is inverted generally U-shaped in cross-section having downward extremities of said clamping member side walls against said. frame member bottom wall transversely straddling an upward projection longitudinally along said frame member bottom wall.

5. A frame construction as defined in claim 1 in which weakened portions are formed in said clamping member side walls generally transversely inwardly aligned with said frame member side wall flange portions.

6. A frame construction as defined in claim 1 in which said clamping member is inverted generally U-shaped in cross-section; and in which longitudinally spaced weakened portions are formed in said clamping member side walls generally transversely inwardly aligned with said frame member side wall flange portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,877,877 3/ 1959 Davis, I r. -392 X 1,698,885 1/ 1929 Johnson et. al 160-394 X 1,743,935 1/ 1930 Schneider et al 160397 2,797,750 7/ 1957 Van Dette 160-392 Re. 16,148 8/1925 Otto 160-394 X 917,106 4/1909 McGee 160-394 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

